The 4 American Jazz Men In Tangier

SSC4752 2017-03-17

Track List

1-1. All Of You
1-2. Confirmation
1-3. Pinky
1-4. Stella By Starlight
1-5. Visa
1-6. Tour De Force
1-7. Tangier Blues
2-1. Invitation
2-2. Round Midnight
2-3. These Foolish Things
2-4. Wee
2-5. Circular Breathing Blues
2-6. Piano Improvisation

Musicians

Idrees Sulieman - trumpet
Oscar Dennard - piano
Jamil Nasser - bass
Buster Smith - drums

There are those musicians who are given legendary status by their peers and the lucky few who were able to hear them. One such player is pianist Oscar Dennard. Though his professional career only lasted for a little over a decade, his modern touch on the instrument inspired an incredible list of piano masters, including Randy Weston, Ahmad Jamal and Harold Mabern.

Born in Florida and honing his musical identity in Memphis, Tennessee, Dennard was most well known for his time spent with Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra. He was featured on a handful of Hampton releases, but, aside from that, there are not many remaining recordings. That is why these important recorded sessions from Dennard’s time with trumpeter Idrees Sulieman’s Quartet are so vital.

Sulieman’s bassist, and Dennard’s friend, Jamil Nasser convinced Dennard to tour with Sulieman’s Quartet (which also included drummer Buster Smith) in 1959. The tour led them throughout Europe and North Africa, including Tangier, where the music from The 4 American Jazz Men In Tangier comes from.